Les Gorges du Verdon / Verdon Grand Canyon

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Explo writer

210 pts.

Off the path Explo

38 %

Off the path Explo rate

Score

1.9 / 5

Comments

Gorges du Verdon are a bit famous in France (in the world also?) but this is a very complete and impressive Explo.
Article Quality

88 %
Article Quality rate
- Description
  
  Score
  
  5 / 5
  
  Comments
  
  Nice description and tips Clémence! Like usually!
- Plans & useful information
  
  Score
  
  5 / 5
  
  Comments
  
  Many useful information and plans!
- Pictures
  
  Score
  
  5 / 5
  
  Comments
  
  5 pics!
- Precise localization on map
  
  Score
  
  5 / 5
  
  Comments
  
  Yep, seems ok!
- 1 specific article for 1 specific spot
  
  Score
  
  2 / 5
  
  Comments
  
  Normally, you should focus on 1 specific spot. But we can also consider Verdon is a whole.
Explo Popularity

80 %

The breathtaking Gorges du Verdon are probably the most spectacular in Europe, it's the second biggest grand canyon in the world, after the Colorado, only 18 times smaller !!
21 km of a gigantic gully with sheer rock sides and exceptional viewpoint in a wild setting...

My experience, Explo description:

The Verdon (from green water in French) is a 165 km long river from the Alpes to the river Durance.
The first to carry out a complete survey of the 21km of the canyon in 1905 was a eminent speleologist, Edouard Alfred Martel. The touristic association Touring Club de France opened a path for walkers in 1928.
Then, the road of the Corniche Sublime was open in 1947, and the Crest road in 1973.

A drive trough the camps de Canjuers: the biggest military training place in all Europe.

The Artuby Bridge: a single 110m arch spans the vertically walled Artuby canyon (170m high)
http://www.latitude-challenge.fr/elastique/4-saut-elastique-latitude-cha...

Les Balcons de la Mescla: where the Artuby meet the Verdon, a balcony or belvedere looking down 230m.

Lake of Sainte Croix (2200ha) : the dam was built in the 70 swallowing the old village of Les Salles, wich was then rebuilt and is now one of the youngest village in France.
Heaven for kayac, canoe, pedalo, camping, beaches, wind surf...

My personal recommendations:

The walk from the Chalet de la Maline to the Point Sublime (take a bus or taxi back): the "Sentier Martel", a 7/8 hours of hard but beautifull walking. The path is on the GR4 and signposted in red and white.
http://www.altisud.com/randonnee/alpes-de-haute-provence/topos-randonnee...

How getting there:

there are 2 roads:
- Corniche Sublime, south bank (my favourite): from Draguignan D955 to Comps Sur Artuby, then D71 to the Lac de Sainte croix
- Crest Road, north bank: D952 from Castellane to Moustiers

A tip to sleep:

http://www.accueil-paysan.com/hote.asp?fiche=0406

Useful information:

Visit duration:

- Corncihe Sublime: 2hours in car between Comps and Aiguines

Contact:

www.parcduverdon.fr
www.sallesurverdon.com
www.moustiers.fr

and me: www.clemenceayrolestourisme.fr

Without a car, it was a

Submitted by SKinSK on Sat, 2012-04-21 07:41.

Without a car, it was a little hard to get to- at least back in 2001! Never-the-less, the Gorges du Verdon offers spectacular rock-climbing. . . well, when it's not raining. . . but the near-by villages are lovely and the food quite fresh and delicious!

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